The Sweeney Series 1

[oslouk]

Purchased this after viewing a great Series 1 episode on UK ITV4 TV this evening...and that was in Standard Def !!

[spearce8]

Any word on S2 yet?

[ccarmock]

Originally Posted by #Darren

Shot on 16mm I believe.

Minder was indeed shot ofn16mm film. I have a few episodes on 16mm myself.

[mattyl149]

I'm glad I picked this up while it was cheap on Play and I also got Regan from Amazon cheap

[Modman]

Originally Posted by mattyl149

I'm glad I picked this up while it was cheap on Play and I also got Regan from Amazon cheap

That reminded me i hadn't picked up Regan, manage to grab it for under a fiver, like you on Amazon

[Kuros]

I've just updated the specs for this.

[indisposed]

I just had to cancel my order of Regan on Play, after finding out that the same company (Moviemars) are selling it on Amazon for more than a pound less... beware guys.

[oslouk]

Purchased this and have just received it, lovely transfer though rather grainy due to
16mm source. 5.1 lossy audio is a little foley-ish but there is a stereo option that I havn't sampled. All in all, colours really pop and viewing experience is very filmic, bloody FANTASTIC !!

Also included is a 108-page glossy paperback booklet on the production of the series plus episode-by-episode series guide, which is worth the money on it's own. This also details the other 3 seasons are definately on their way. This is a simply fantastic series excellently restored !

[oslouk]

Now received this and it's terrific, excellent restoration ! Package also includes very informative 108-page booklet on the production, also confirming other seasons on their way, nice one !!

[supersimon38]

I asked Network about further series releases having really enjoyed the first one and this is the email I got back

Thank you for your email, we are pleased to hear that you are enjoying our
blu-ray releases. We are unable to announce timescales for The Sweeney and
the rest of the Professionals, due to the nature of the work involved in
making these happen, however rest assured that we are working on these and
will add the release dates to our website as soon as we have these.

[SteveBriz]

This is good news. Since the commentaries ceased after series one in the original dvd sets, my fingers are crossed that Network go back & add further tracks to the later programs.

[Coogans Bluff]

I spoke to Network today about further Sweeney releases on Blu Ray as they have taken series 1 off of their site and this is what they said,
We currently have no plans to release this series in BD. We are constantly
on the look out for new titles and also release further series of titles
already released by us, though, and will add yours to the wish list.
I hope this does not mean we will not be seeing anymore on Blu Ray.

[Si Parallel Universe]

They've been really evasive about The Sweeney on Blu Ray ever since the first series didnt sell well enough on Blu.

Maybe they could do the decent thing and work with another label that will put it out instead.

[Shillingbury Tales]

Originally Posted by Coogans Bluff

I spoke to Network today about further Sweeney releases on Blu Ray as they have taken series 1 off of their site and this is what they said,
We currently have no plans to release this series in BD. We are constantly
on the look out for new titles and also release further series of titles
already released by us, though, and will add yours to the wish list.
I hope this does not mean we will not be seeing anymore on Blu Ray.

That's a standard reply when they have no planned release date.
Although the restorations came out on dvd in 2014 I would say the chances of them never appearing on Bluray are zero.

[Shillingbury Tales]

Originally Posted by Si Parallel Universe

They've been really evasive about The Sweeney on Blu Ray ever since the first series didnt sell well enough on Blu.

Maybe they could do the decent thing and work with another label that will put it out instead.

As Network have the deal with Fremantle and the restorations were likely at least partly funded by them I doubt they would opt for another company releasing them.
Network have a history of limiting the number of ongoing Bluray tv releases at any one time.
They currently have the CGI Captain Scarlet , Hammer House of Horror and probably more ITC shows now that Randall and Hopkirk is complete (with both R&H and Dept S boxsets due in the Autumn) so I would say less than perfect sales figures for The Sweeney had put it to the back of the queue.

Networks habit of regular sales shot themselves in the foot with so many people not buying on day one and others just waiting for the sale. I think this is why the current one is the first site wide sale they've had for a long time.
The Sweeney Blu for series 1 was quite expensive when it first appeared so that didn't help either.

There's also the possibility they may release a complete series Bluray boxset. Thanks to their deal with Studio Canal they could include the movies too.

[Coogans Bluff]

Now a box set would be nice and the movies would be even better.

[Shillingbury Tales]

Originally Posted by Coogans Bluff

Now a box set would be nice and the movies would be even better.

Yes I do wonder whether they may take that route as the restorations have been ready a while and it might be an easier sell than individual series although the price might be a bit hefty.
A boxset followed by series by series later might work.
A boxset though would likely mean we lose the book

[serpentine]

'We're the Sweeney son, and we haven't had any dinner.' Love it

[Si Parallel Universe]

Breakfast

I think the poor sales of Series One hindered the release of the other series on Blu, unfortunately.

[Shillingbury Tales]

Originally Posted by Si Parallel Universe

Breakfast

I think the poor sales of Series One hindered the release of the other series on Blu, unfortunately.

As the restorations have been ready for sometime I doubt Network will leave Sweeney fans hanging forever.
I've not heard anything to confirm the series 1 release didn't sell very well.
I believe Andrew Pixley has already completed his viewing notes for series 2-4 so they would appear to be on the cards although he has written notes for things then they've been delayed for several years.
As series 1 was a bit pricey for what it was I think the obviously more popular series The Professionals got in the way when they discovered the negatives were available as nobody had been aware of their existence for years.

If you've compared the earlier dvd's to the Blurays you can see why they might have got a bit over excited.
Speaking of which - all 4 series on Bluray still £38 in the sale. Absolute bargain although I think the book might be missing from series 1 as that version was deleted a while ago.

Edit - that particular bargain looks to have sold out